Chapter 6

             As if someone heard their conversation a day ago, nandito ngayon sa harapan ng pinto ni Samira ang hindi pamilyar na lalaki.

"Hi?" awkward na sabi ni Samira sa taong nasa likod ng pintuan ng condo niya.

The guy was tall, had a masculine facial structure, and his broad chest and body is evident on his formal get-up—naka-Americana kasi ito.

He's hot pero mukhang naliligaw siya dito. Walang party dito.

"Is Maria Periliana here?" natigilan siya nang magsalita ito. His thick and heavy accent shocked her. All she can do was blink.

"Ha?"

"Is Maria Periliana here?" pag-uulit nito. Nakasimangot ang mukha nito at parang galit.

Natauhan siya sa pagkatanga. "You mean, Perry?"

Tumango ito ng isang beses, "is she here?"

"Uh..." hindi niya alam ang sasabihin, "she's not yet here but she'll come later."

Tumango nanaman ito at parehas silang nakatayo lang doon. Samira felt awkward kaya inaya niya itong pumasok. Tahimik nilang linakad ang hallway bago makarating sa living room niya.

"Make yourself comfortable. She'll come any minute now." sabi niya at pinaupo ito sa sofa. "You want anything? Tea? Coffee? Juice?"

"A coffee will do." sabi nito at bago pa siya umalis ay nagsalita ulit ito. "Dark coffee, please."

Tumango-tango siya bago umalis. Wow, ang demanding. Lagyan ko kaya ng sandamakmak na cream 'yung kape niya.

Bumalik siyang may hawak na tasa at isang slice ng natirang mocha cake na binigay ng kambal niyang si Sammy kahapon.

Nakakahiya naman kasi, baka gutom din siya.

"Thanks, but I don't eat sweets." pagtanggi niya dito at kinuha ang tasa ng kape.

Halata nga. Mukhang wala siyang sweet bones sa katawan.

"No, this is mine. Haha." kinuha niya yung cake at nilantakan 'yun.

Akala niya ay mapapahiya ang lalaki pero parang wala lang sakaniya 'yun at tumingin-tingin pa sa paligid.

"Nice place. It screams luxury." sabi ng lalaki. Kahit na nagco-compliment ito ay para paring boses robot ang dating nito.

"Thanks, I bought it from my money." pagmamayabang niya. She'll always be proud that she bought everything she wants from her own pocket and not from anybody else's, given that she came from a very wealthy family.

Napatango-tango nanaman ito na parang wala lang. Hindi manlang ito namangha sa sinabi niya. Hmp.

"Why are you looking for Perry again?" pag-iiba niya ng topic at baka maibuhos niya ang iniinom nitong kape sa umiinom.

"She didn't come home again. She's really stubborn and never listened to me."

"Oh." nasabi niya. Kaya pala halos magtayo na ng sarili niyang teritoryo dito sa condo ko ang gagita.

"Maybe she didn't want to live in your uhm...mansion." awkward niyang pagkakasabi.

"How can I monitor her when she's away? She's my responsibility. If something bad happens to her, I'll be in fault." tuloy-tuloy nitong sabi na para bang nagra-rant sakaniya.

"It's okay, I can take care of her." sabi niya pero agad ring may napagtanto, "how did you know that she lives here?"

"Ms. Monteverde, we had very wide connections. I can find her anywhere but she's too hard-headed to come with me." ni hindi nagbago ang ekspresyon nito habang nagsasalita. Nagulat pa siya nang malaman nito ang apilyedo niya pero gaya ng sabi niya malawak ang 'connections nila.'

Parang robot. Scary.

"Maybe she feels too caged and imprisoned. She doesn't have any freedom when she is with you." straight-to-the-point na pagkakasabi niya.

Agad niyang napansin ang biglang pagbago ng timpla ng lalaki. Mukha natamaan.

"I am just concerned about her safety here in the Philippines. You will never know what danger is waiting for her here. Freedom always means more threats." matalim na nakatingin ito sakaniya.

"You don't have to be too strict. She chose to be here because she feels more free here, than in Spain." hindi siya nagpatalo.

"You don't know anything about being a royal, Ms. Monteverde." kumalma ito, "neither her choice, she have an image to take care and safety to prioritize."

Nangunot noo niya. Ayan nanaman 'yang choice-choice na 'yan!

Nang maramdaman ang pag-vibrate ng cellphone sa bulsa, agad niya 'yun tiningnan. She saw Perry's text and if only she can see her right now, she will make sure she'll never let her leave the country alive.

Perry the Platypus
Girrrl!
Malalate ako ng uwi ha?
May inasikaso lang.
Tenks, wag mo ako mamimiss!

Napakagat siya sa pang-ibabang labi sa gigil. She tried texting her pero hindi na ito nag-text pabalik.

"Uh..." napatingin siya sa lalaki na nasa harap niya. Hindi niya alam ang pangalan nito kaya nagbabaka sakali siyang makaramdam 'yun at magpakilala.

"Pablo." nakaramdam din.

"Perry won't come home early. She said she had something to do." napatingin siya sa hallway papuntang pinto ng condo, "if you want, you can come back la—"

"No, I'll wait for her here." matigas nitong sabi, "if this is one of her tricks again, I won't fall for it anymore."

Napangiwi nalang siya nang makitang komportable na itong nakaupo doon sa sofa niya.

"If that's what you want..." sabi niya at dahan-dahang naglakad patungo sa kusina, "make yourself comfortable."

Wala na siyang nakuhang sagot kaya pinabayaan na niya iyon sa living room. She doesn't really feel comfortable with the guy sitting at ease at her huge couch so she made everything she can do to make the man leave the place by himself and not with her telling him to leave.

She never used her blender except when she makes herself a smoothie pero mukhang napadami-dami ang nagawa niyang smoothie sa araw na ito.

Bibigyan ko nalang kung sinong mga makita ko bukas sa univ. she thought as she put the fifth smoothie she made using the last bananas she had.

Kumuha siya ng panibagong prutas at linagay iyon sa blender. Naglikha nanaman 'yun ng napakaingay na tunog at hinihiling niya na sa pagkakataong ito, aalis na ang lalaki.

Para namang dininggin ang panalangin niya at nakatayo na sa harap niya ang lalaki. Nakakunot ang noo nito habang nakatingin sakaniya.

"Smoothie?" she flashed a really sweet smile as she offered him the kiwi smoothie she made.

"You are causing too much noise." nakakunot noo nitong sabi.

Pinindot niya ulit ang blender at naglikha iyon ng malakas na tunog, "Ha?!" sigaw niya na parang hindi narinig ang sinabi niya.

Napailing ang lalaki at tumingin sa relos nito, "I'll be back later."

Yes! Perry, you owe me one. Ihanda mo na bangko mo.

"Oh sure, anytime." ngumiti siya ng pagkalaki-laki.

Akmang aalis na ang lalaki nang marinig nilang dalawa ang matinis na boses ni Perry na nanggagaling sa hallway.

"Girrrl! I'm baaack!"

Nawala ang ngiti niya nang makita ang kaibigan na tumatalon-talon pang naglalakad sa hallway ng condo niya. Natigilan din ito nang makita ang Kuya niya na matalim na nakatitig sakaniya. Pinanlakihan niya ito ng mata.

"Joke lang! Undo! Undo! Wala pa ako dito!" tumalikod ito pero agad siyang napatigil nang tawagin siya ng Kuya niya. "Maria Periliana."

Narinig niya pa ang mahinang pagmumura ng kaibigan bago dahan-dahan na lumapit saamin.

Bad timing ka kasi!

***

            "I won't do anything stupid! Promesa!" mangiyak-ngiyak na sabi ng kaibigan habang nakatingin sa Kuya niya na masamang nakatingin sakaniya. Tinaas pa niya ang kanang kamay.

"No. You'll go back. Mom will be visiting the mansion a week from now. She'll be furious if she didn't find you there."

"I'll go back, promise! But not now!"

"No is no. Take your luggage and we'll go back. Now." matigas nitong sabi at wala na silang nagawa kundi ang sumunod. May mga dumating na rin kasing mga bodyguard para sunduin ang dalawa.

"Balik ka nalang sa susunod na buwan." kinindatan ni Samira ang kaibigan na nakasimangot na.

Ngumiti ito ng palihim at bumulong, "sabi mo 'yan ha."

"No. No one's going back."

Sabay silang napasimangot nang umepal si Pablo sa usapan nila.

Kinakausap?

Sinamahan niya ang kaibigan hanggang sa makarating sila sa parking lot at sumalubong doon ang limousine.

Yayamanin talaga ang gaga.

"Bye, girlll! Huhuhu!" huling nakita niya ang naiiyak na mukha ng kaibigan bago sila umalis.

Napabuntong hininga nalang siya. Hirap maging prinsesa.

"Sino 'yun?"

Gusto niyang mapamura nang may magsalita sa mismong likuran niya. Nang mapagtanto kung sino ang nagsalita, nakasimangot niyang hinarap ito na nakakunot ang noo.

"Si Perry." sagot niya at nagsimulang maglakad papasok sa lobby ng condominium. Sumunod naman si Blue sakaniya.

"Hindi. 'Yung lalaki."

"Si Pablo." sagot niya ulit at pumasok sa elevator. Sumunod nanaman ang lalaki.

"Anong ginagawa niya sa condo mo kanina? Kayong dalawa lang nandoon."

Naguguluhan siyang humarap sa lalaki, "nandoon ka kanina?"

Natigilan naman siya at nag-isip. "Bibisitahin sana kita pero nakita ko kayo." mahinang sabi nito.

"Ah, ok." lumabas siya sa elevator at naglakad. Sumunod nanaman ang lalaki.

"Ano nga ginagawa niyo doon? Ang tagal niyong magkasama." kulit nito at sumama na sa loob nang pumasok siya sa condo niya.

"Baka naglaro." she said sarcastically.

"Naglaro? Ano namang lalaruin niyo?" nakakunot na ang noo nito. Naiinis niyang hinarap ang lalaki na kanina pa nagtatanong.

"Ang dami mong tanong. Hinanap niya lang si Perry dito."

"Boyfriend ni Perry?"

"Brotha."

Sumimangot ang lalaki nang sagutin niya ito kaya siya na ang nagtanong. "Bakit ka ba nandito?"

Doon natauhan si Blue at natigilan. Ano nga ulit ginagawa ko dito?

"B-bisitahin ka nga, bakit paulit-ulit ka?" umupo ito sa couch na inupuan ni Pablo kanina.

"Oh. Nakita mo na ako, ano pang gagawin mo dito?" nang-aasar niyang sabi at pumunta sa kusina para ayusin ang kalat na ginawa niya.

"Bakit ang daming smoothie dito?" napaharap siya sa lalaki at nakitang nakabukas na ang refrigerator niya. Aba, kapal ng mukha.

"Kasi marami akong ginawa." she stated the obvious.

"Pahingi ako." sabi nito at kinuha ang isang kulay pink na smoothie, strawberry. "bibigyan ko si Winnie."

Agad na napaharap si Samira sa lalaki mula sa paghuhugas ng blender. "Ibalik mo 'yan. Sinabi kong pwede kang kumuha?" matalim ang mga tingin nito sa hawak niyang smoothie.

"Damot. Isa lang naman. Kanina mo ipapainom 'tong mga 'to?"

"Ibibigay ko sa mga prof. namin bukas." wala sa isip niyang sagot. Really, Samira?

"Kailan ka pa naging generous?" natatawang tanong nito. Sinamaan niya ng tingin ang lalaki.

"Para ipasa ako sa mga bagsak ko." nauna nanaman ang bibig niya bago pa mai-process ng utak niya ang sasabihin.

"Wow, sipsip ka na ngayon?"

Aba, animal!

"Generous lang!" balik niyang sagot.

"Kakasabi mo lang—"

"Joke lang 'yun!"

"Wala. Wala."

Nag-asaran nanaman silang dalawa magdamag. Na para bang hindi sila nagpansinan nung isang araw at nagkasagutan nung isang linggo. Bestfriends nga diba.

***

              It was weekend. Samira decided to visit her salon which she named Savannah. She has always had this obsession with that name. Probably because she was supposed to be named Savannah but her mom and dad stick to the traditional 'Sam' name since both her older brother and twin are named after Sam.

She was with Samara for the day. Sa kanilang magkakapatid, Samara is the youngest and the most lonely—para sakaniya. She was the last born and masasabing halos napagiwanan na nilang mas nakakatanda dahil nang mag-high school ito, they were mostly in college already and living away from their mansion.

So she decided to bond with her for the weekend. Hitting two birds in one stone—she could visit her salon and bond with her sister.

Savannah was Samira's gift for herself on her birthday last year. She used all her funds and savings from her modeling activities since she started modeling. Malaki-laki na ang naging puhunan niya but still she made sure to make this business work. She started with only one branch and this didn't really made much noise in the city as she made it a secret that she was the owner back then. Still, she never gave up at kayod lang siya ng kayod para mapalago ang negosyo and just months ago, her business boomed and it was recognized by the crowd. And just months ago, she opened two more branch in Antipolo and Cavite.

It might not be obvious and much shown, but Samira has been business-minded and oriented. From the age of 15, she has built a mindset of owning a business and make it grow not with the help of anyone. Despite being a professor's 'enemy', her professors can't deny the fact that she is passionate about her course and they all knew that she had a very bright future ahead—attitude and being tardy aside. This also made a one-way 'pogi point' for their father who always wanted another business person in their family.

"Good afternoon, ma'am Mira!" her workers greeted her cheerfully.

She smiled and greeted them back. These workers are her first ever workers who never hesitated to work for her even they knew how this business isn't a guarantee big shot for them. They stayed even if they knew that she can't provide much more salary for them.

"How is the business going? May mga problema ba?" she asked.

"Nako, wala, ma'am! Sa katunayan, mas dumadami ang mga suki natin nang magsimulang sumikat itong salon." Merilyn answered.

Napangiti si Samira sa balitang iyon. That's good news.

"At marami narin ang mga nagtatanong kung bakit hindi nila nalaman agad ang Savannah noon. Marami ring nagtatanong kung saan ang ibang branches." sagot naman ni Shiela.

Napatango-tango siya, "that's good to hear. 'Wag kayo mag-alala kapag nagpatayo ako ng isa pang branch, tataas sweldo niyo."

Agad naman silang nagpasalamat. She and Samira had their hair treated. Nagpa-pedi at manicure narin siya.

"Your business has been doing good, so far." sabi ni Samara na katabi niya.

"Mom and Dad will be proud." nakangiti niyang sabi maisip lang ang mga proud na mukha ng magulang nila.

"Yup, they would be."

"Would you mind if you would handle one of my branches?" tanong niya sa kapatid.

Napatigil sa pagbabasa ng magazine ang kapatid at napatingin sakaniya. "Business is not my thing."

She was not surprised. Dad never really forced her to take the business path in the near future for the reason that they already have three of five in the family that would be a possible successors of him.

"Then, what would you get in college?"

She simply shrugged and never said anything. Napabuntong-hininga nalang si Samira.

"See. Sa sobrang dami mong alam na gawin, naguguluhan ka na sa gusto mong kunin sa college. Masyado ka kasing talented."

"Why does it seems like it's bad that I'm good at everything?" tanging tanong nito.

Samira shrugged and simply said, "Make up your mind and choose the best option. You won't regret it."

The conversation ended there but Samira's peace of mind didn't as she saw someone familiar enter the salon.

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